The Two Witnesses are first mentioned in Rev. 11 in the 2nd woe and are killed before the 3rd woe starts in Rev. 11. Rev. 7 to 11 are the major points of the Tribulation. To mention the Two Witnesses are killed in the 6th Trumpet and the 6th Trumpet is 13 months means the Two Witnesses start preaching 1260 days before the end of the 6th Trumpet. So 13 months of the 6th Trumpet + 5 months of the 5th Trumpet is 18 months. They preach for 42 months. So 42 - 18 = 24 months. 24 months prior takes us to 42 - 24 = 18 months after the Tribulation starts. 18 months after the Tribulation starts is after Passover 2023. But Rev. 11 doesn't say when the Two Witnesses die in the 6th Trumpet only that they do die during that time. They could die as early as the start of the 6th Trumpet so let's do the math. 42 - 5 for the 5th = 38. 42 - 38 = 5 months. The Two Witnesses could start preaching as early as 5 months after the Tribulation starts. The Passover in 2023 is about 7 months after the Tribulation starts Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 so that works perfectly when the Two Witnesses start preaching judgment at Passover when the 3rd Temple newly constructed is dedicated. Their preaching takes them to Feast of Trumpets 3 1/2 years later. Another coincidence? I think not.

April 1, Nisan 10, first day of the 4 day inspection of the lamb before Nisan 15, April 6, Passover 2023 + 1260 days = Sept. 12, 2026 Feast of Trumpets.

“A reed like unto a rod”—What is its significance? Revelation 21.15-17 mentions only a measuring with a reed, without specifying any using of the reed as a rod. This is due to the simple fact that at the time of the new heaven and new earth, sin, Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet have all been cast into the lake of fire; all is therefore peaceful. The measuring in Revelation 11.1, however, implies a sense of judgment (cf. Prov. 10.13; Ps. 89.32). Whatever is measured is holy and thus protected by God; but what is left unmeasured is dangerous and worldly.

“The temple of God”—Is this temple in heaven or on earth? It is the temple in heaven, for two reasons: (1) it is the only temple emphasized in this book (11.19, 16.17); and (2) the future temple on earth will be desecrated by idols: how, then, can God protect it as though it were holy?

“Altar”—This is not the brazen altar, since the latter stands in the court and is left unmeasured. But the altar mentioned here is measured, and hence must be in the temple itself. Only the altar of incense is in the temple. This is further confirmed by the phrase “them that worship therein” at the end of the verse. To measure those who worship in the temple is to say that God protects those who are raptured.

11.2 “The court which is without the temple” has reference to the temple on earth. The temple in heaven is the true temple; the temple on earth is considered here to be the court which is without the temple. Although during the time of the Old Testament kings the altars had been erected on high places to worship God, the task of those few kings who were raised up for the purpose of reformation had always been to try to get rid of these altars at the high places. What men had erected was rejected by God. Only during the transitory period of the calling of the nations to Christ did the Jews who became Christians go also to the temple to worship God (Acts. 2.46, 3.1, 5.20).

In the Old Testament period there was a central temple, but in New Testament times there is no physical building called a “church”; for under the New Covenant we are to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4.23,24). Further, we are called to worship God in the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 10.19-22).

How does God abolish the earthly temple so as to draw men to worship Him in the heavenly one? The Lord Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice. At His death all the sacrifices were terminated. And seventy years after the birth of Christ the Romans destroyed the temple at Jerusalem. With the result that there is no longer any temple on earth.

Yet here in the passage before us we find the temple on earth again. This, therefore, is a return to the Old Covenant. “The abomination of desolation” mentioned in Matthew 24.15 has reference to an idol, whereas the phrase “the holy place” is a reference to the temple. During the Great Tribulation an idol will be placed in the sanctuary (2 Thess. 2.2-4; Rev. 13.14).

“The holy city” is Jerusalem (Matt. 4.5). Those who worship in the temple above are the people described in 7.9-17.

“Tread under foot” is the same as is spoken of in Luke 21.24. The nations will have domination for 42 months over the holy city.